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Since his departure from the House in 1998, Gingrich has become Newt Inc. -- one part provocateur, one part entrepreneur.
AP Photo

Newt Gingrich's long, slow striptease over whether he will seek the presidency in 2008 looks like it might come to an unexpected conclusion: a date with Fred Thompson.

Publicly, Gingrich has been sending signals making clear that a presidential candidacy for him is becoming less likely. Privately, he and some of his closest advisers have been meeting with -- and, in at least one prominent case, going to work for -- the lobbyist-actor and former Tennessee senator.

"I've always said it was unlikely I would run," Gingrich said in an interview last Friday with The Associated Press. And, he added, if Thompson "runs and does well, then I think that makes it easier for me not to run."

The same day that Gingrich made his comments, his former communications director, Rich Galen, disclosed that he had signed on as an adviser to Thompson's campaign in waiting. In an interview, Galen termed the coincidence "an unfortunate confluence of events," denying that there was any link.

But that was not the only evidence of a possible Thompson-Gingrich alliance in 2008. Gingrich and his wife, Calista, had dinner with Thompson and his wife, Jeri, at the former senator's home in McLean, Va., on July 16, according to two Republican sources close to both men.

A Thompson aide would say only that "a good policy discussion" was had over the meal.

If a Gingrich endorsement of Thompson happens, it probably won't be until at least October. For one thing, Thompson isn't likely to formally announce his candidacy until after Labor Day.

But Gingrich has also said repeatedly that he would hold off any decision until after he marks the 13th anniversary of the Contract With America -- the manifesto that spurred the GOP takeover of the House in 1994 -- by holding an online policy seminar in late September.

Still, if he is trying to avoid getting in the race and looking for somebody to get behind, it's not clear why Gingrich continues to keep the possibility of a presidential bid open.

One explanation: Keeping speculation churning during the remaining months before the primaries begin is good for business.

Since his unceremonious departure from the House in 1998, Gingrich has become Newt Inc. -- one part provocateur, one part entrepreneur, who stirs debate in his party and in journalistic circles, gets Sunday talk show invites and draws audiences on the lecture circuit.

A presidential flirtation helps Gingrich further raise his profile, push his ideas and sell his books.

Friends and former aides offer a less cynical interpretation. They say Gingrich's true aim is not to insert himself into the race but to press his agenda for modernizing government institutions for a new generation of problems into the heart of the contest.

"It's not a matter of keeping his name out there," said Galen. "But he does get to help frame the debate by being considered a potential candidate."

"He's not as consumed with becoming a candidate as he is consumed with the candidates talking about the things that are in his mind," Galen added. "If he appears on 'Meet the Press,' he wants to say something that the candidates will be forced to respond to the next day."

Gingrich spokesman Rick Tyler rejected the suggestion that his boss is delaying a decision to draw attention to the September commemoration and other projects.

Hey Kpenglish we don't hate Fred and Newt we actually think that they both have hot wives. I don't even think that Fred Thompson's wife was born yet when he was doing his "distinguished" senate work or while he was lobbying on behalf of pro abortion groups. As for Newt I can understand why he'd leave his first wife, I mean how weird is it to marry your geometry teacher? Thompson/Gingrich 08' would be great. If you combine their wives ages they'd make 30. I just choose to talk about their wives because their politics are too far out there for a sensible person to even debate about.

Now more than ever I am convinced that the BEST chance the Republicans have of winning is to have Rudy Guiliani at the top of the Ticket. Newt Gingrich or Fred Thompson is not the answer to a Republican victory and I doubt whether either can seriously win nationally if he wins the GOP nomination at all. It might be the answer to Conservatives but the Republican Party is not the Conservatives Party. Of course Conservatives have come to make up the base of the Republican Party but it is not all by itself a Conservative Party. It is a party of Independents and moderates as well. Abortion and Gay Marriage should not be a litmus test for the GOP Nominee. Both of these issue are non-issues for victory and should be recognized as such or as much importance put on them by Republicans. I rather doubt that if the GOP Candidate embraces either of these issues that the GOP will abandon the candidate in favor or a Liberal or Progressive Democrat. And as Republicans we all know what is at stake and if we don't we better find out right away. Of course the other issue is the role President Bush will take in the coming campaign. More now more than ever someone need to give this man a PR course on public speaking and get him out from hiding and out on the campaign trail explaining his positions, especially on the War on Terror and why they need to be continued. George W. Bush has put the GOP in the fallible position it is in today and it is up to BUSH to repair the damage and get the people rallying to the GOP once again. He can still come to the rescue if he so wills it and he has 18 months to do it in. He owes it to every Person who voted for him to do so.

I love this right-wing meme that "libs fear Fred." I remember when Fred was senator. A big fuss was made when he came in, then slowly died down to nothing by the time he returned to Hollywood. Yah, real scary.

But that was not the only evidence of a possible Thompson-Gingrich alliance in 2008.

Lies, all lies. Neither of these guys are some dumb that they would ever team up on the same ticket, they offer each other nothing. Now a Thompson/Guiliani or visa viersa, that sells. Newt for Secretary of Education, something we need worse than we ever know.

Great point YAFer; the one thing Speaker Gingrich always has is a plan, e.g. the Cntract with America. Gingrich would probably make a great conservative President, but too much baggage for him to ever win a general election.

What a choice-----A two bit television star able to read a script, and a two bit hypocrite who cheated on his cancerous wife and married his mistress. What a family values couple this would be. Who said those republicans don`t have a sense of humor???

What we need is someone smart for president in '08. I don't see any smart ones on the Rethuglican side.

Their leading candidate is "None of the above" and that includes Lazy Fred the Lobbyist. Adding Newt only bring up the total IQ of the pair to about 88 which is about 12 points below average. I guess dumb people for president plays well in the South where they think anyone with an IQ higher than their age is smart.

Fred & Newt '08. Rethuglican dumb & dumber for president.

Wow, very poignant. One of the reasons I come to Politico is to understand the Liberal, oops I mean Independent, mindset - thanks,

You might want to check out Senator Thompson's start in acting, no script needed there, he actually starred as himself. The movie's name in Marie. In defense of this whistleblower, through Thompson's investigations, the Governor of Tennessee eventually went to prison for taking bribes.

The libs try to downplay Thompson's potential and write him off as "that actor," but I guarantee the Left and their accomplices in the mainstream media wouldn't be coming out with these petty, childish attacks on Fred and his wife. Liberals have always been about style over substance. They have no message. They're running against Bush as if he were up for re-election in 2008. It's pathetic.

Newt sees Thompson as a way for him to become President. Thompson is another empty vessel, just like Bush Jr. Newt could be just like Cheney. PS Check out the Olbermann clip. http://rawstory.com/news/2007/... "Mi Abogado" as Bush calls him has gotten hit knickers knotted again with that truth stuff. Our Attorney General may be forced out of office by the end of the Summer if this keeps up.

We want Fred! We want Fred! We want Fred! Please nominate Fred Thompson already. I love the guy, I've donated $50 online already to www.imwithfred.com. I really want him to win this nomination for all of us. So all of you other Republican idiots get out of the race already and give the damn nomination to Fred Thompson. Pleeeeeaaaassseee.

Well I'm a lefty and I don't hate Newt or fear Fred. I like Fred, he was great in "Hunt For Red October" I'm sure he'd make a good candidate, he's got the gravitas thing, the southern drawl that conservatives just go goo-goo for. Newt, Fred, Rudy, Mitt it doesn't really matter. Whoever the Republican candidate is it will be fun watching him walk the tight rope of distancing himself from Bush and trying to appeal to the conservative base. Good Luck Newt & Fred!